Handle structure



July 13 1926. 1,592,574

H. G. SPECHT HANDLE STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 5, 1926 INVENTOR.

GSpec/zt 18 .Z a 12 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY G. BPECHT, OI FAIBFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BLBSICK GOE-PANY, OI BRIDGEPORT, CDNNEC'IICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HANDLE STRUCTURE.

Application filed February 5, 1828. Serial No. 88,181.

The resent invention relates to an improved andle structure,particularly of the type adapted for use as a re ulator handle forautomobile windows, alt ough the invention is applicable to other typesof handles.

Heretofore handles of this type have usually been formed of solid castmetal, which was both expensive and unsatisfactory, the variety ofdesigns usually desired necessitating separate molds and patterns foreach design, and the relatively costly and slow processes of casting andfinishing, making their economical production on a large scaleimpractical. Also, cast metal does not lend itself to the production ofattractive or sharply defined finishes. Attempts have heretofore beenmade to construct such handles from sheet metal, but these have had tobe formed of relatively expensive stock, as brass of heavy gauge, toprovide strength together with a proper finish, but these structuresproved to be subject, among other unsatisfactory conditions, to denting,distortion, and looseness, so that no great saving or advantage wasgained over the cast metal handles.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a handlestructure having the advantages of manufacture and attractive finish ofsheet metal, and the advantages of solidity andstrength of cast metal,and to this end it is proposed, in the present embodiment of theinvention, to provide a solid metal base or body portion, having aspindle engaging hub or bushing integrally formed therewith, a.reinforcing backing shell of relatively heavy gauge inexpensive metal,as sheet steel, and an outer shell of brass, or other suitable material,ada ted to give a finished and attractive sur ace, and which, due to thereinforcing backing shell, may be of relatively thin gauge, so that itmay be easily shaped, will I take sharply defined designs. and isrelatively inexpensive, as compared to the heavy gauge ex ensive metalheretofore required. A furt er object is to rovide a body structurehaving an inte a spindle engaging hub, the passage of w ich is open atboth ends, so that it may be conveniently and effectually finished, asby breaching, to provide a more rigid, adjustable, and reliableconnection with the operating spindle.

With the above and other objects in view,

described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finallypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a top plan view of a regulator handle,according to the present embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and showing a portion of theoperating spindle secured thereto;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are vertical sectional views, respectively taken alongthe lines 5-5, 66 and 77 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the outer finishing shell, beforeassembly;

Fig. 9 is a. side elevation of the reinforcing backing up shellemployed;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the body or base member employed; and

Fig. 12 is a top plan view thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the handle structure, according to thepresent embodiment of the invention, comprises a body or base member 10,preferably of cast metal, but which may be otherwise suitably formed,having the plan outline of the handle, provided at its outer end with anintegrally formed circular boss 11 projecting upwardly with respect tothe inner or upper surface and adapted to receive the rotatable handgrip shank, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Near its inner end,and at the outer or under side, there is integrally formed a hub 12adapted for securing the handle to an operating spindle 13, and providedfor this purpose with a square hole 14 open at both ends, the inner sideof the base member being recessed about said hole, as at 15, to reducethe amount of metal employed. In casting the hole 14 in the base membera relatively rough surface is produced, and also the drawing of the coreproduces atapered shape, so that it is desirable to finish the surfaceof the bore, as by broaching, which operation may be conveniently andeffectually performed, inasmuch as the hole extends entirely through themember. Obviously, this would not be possible with a solid cast handle.At its inner side the base member is provided with a marginal recess 16,into which the edge of the outer finishing shell is adapted to be bent,as will hereinafter more fu ly appear. A hole 17 having an annularlyshouldered recess 18 is provided centrally in'the boss 11.

At the upper side of the base member 10 there is engaged a reinforcingbacking plate or shell 19, having the general plan and surface contourof the finished handle, this plate being formed of relatively heavygauge rigid metal, as sheet steel. The plate 19 is provided with aperipheral flange 2O adapted to seat snugly upon the marginal portion ofthe body member 10 in flush relation with its periphery, and at theinner end of said plate there is provided a fiat extension portion 21adapted to engage upon the flat upper surface of the boss 11, andprovided with it: hole 22 in register with the hole 17 in said oss.

The assembled base member 10 and backing plate 19 provide a hollow frameor body structure, for solidly.supporting the outer finishing shell,presently to be described, this body, structure being adapted foreconomical manufacture and assembly, and being furthermore of relativelygreat strength and rigidit capable of withstanding any strains or blowsthat may be imparted to the handle. The smooth surface of the backingplate does not require a finishing operation to provide a proper supportfor the outer she I.

The outer or finishing shell 23 is formed of relatively thin gaugeeasily worked metal, as thin sheet brass, adapted to be pressed toshape, and lending itself to the effectual production of sharply defineddesigns and shapes pressed therein, as beading lines, scrolls, etc. Itis adapted to fit snugly over the backing plate 19 and the periphery ofthe base member 10, and is provided with a continuous peripheral flange24 adapted to be bent at its edgeinto the recess 16 of the base memberto retain the several parts in assembled relation, and to entirelyconceal the supporting body or frame structure from the top and sides.The recess 16 is of such depth that the bent in edge of the shell 23 issubstantially flush with the under surface, and when the completedhandle is plated, or otherwise given a surface finish, the wholestructure presents a substantially unbroken and attractive appearance.The shell 23 is provided at its outer end with a hole 25 in registerwith the holes 22 and 17, and within the passage thus formed in the endof the handle there is rotatably engaged the spindle or shank 26 of ahand grip 27, the spindle being secured by means of a collar 28 securedupon its end within the recess 18, a spring washer 29 disposed betweenthe collar and the base of the recess adapted to frictionally retain thegrip against looseness. The improved structure, according to myinvention, provides a strong attractive handle, which may beeconomically and efficiently manufactured in' large quantities, and onewhich lends itself to the production of sharply defined and attractivefinishes. The heavy gauge backing plate provides a solid support for thethin finishing shell, so that the latter will not be subject to denting,and in fitting the spindle 13 into the hub 12 the surface of the handlemay be hammered without dan er of collapse. The open inner end of thehole 14 and the hollow space above it permit the spindle to be engagedinto the handle as far as the surface of the backing plate, thusproviding greater adjustment and a ,more reliable fit. The thin outershell, in addition to being more easily shaped, is comarativelyinexpensive, so that a high grade finish may be produced at no greatercost than the cheaper structures heretofore in use.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodimentof the invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1- 1. In a handle structure, a base member having aspindle attaching portion, a backing plate having the surface and planoutline of the finished handle and engaged upon said base member, and anouter shell engaged over said backing plate in contact therewith andbent over at its marginal edge upon the under surface of said basemember.

2. In a handle structure, a base member having a spindle attachingportion, a backing plate of relatively heavy gauge sheet metal havingthe surface and plan outline of the finished handle and engaged uponsaid base member, and an outer shell of relatively thin gauge sheetmetal engaged over said backing plate in contact therewith, and bentover at its marginal edge upon the under surface of said base member.

3. In a handle structure, a cast metal base member having an integralspindle attaching portion, a backing plate of relatively strong sheetmetal having the surface and plan outline of the finished handle andengaged upon said base member, and an outer shell of relatively thingauge sheet metal engaged over said backing plate in contact therewith,and bent over at its marginal edge upon the under surface of said basemember.

reliable and 4. In a handle structure, a base member having a spindleattaching portion, a backing plate of sheet metal pressed to shape toprovide an upper surface contour and a recessed under 'surface, andengaged at its peripheral edge upon the marginal upper surface of saidbase member, and an outer shell engaged over said backing plate incontact therewith, and bent over at its marginal edge upon the undersurface of said base member.

In a handle structure, a base member having an integral spindleattaching portion provided with a passage open at its inner and outerends, a backing plate having the surface and plan outline of thefinished handle and engaged upon said base member, and an outer shellengaged over said back ing plate in contact therewith and bent over atits marginal edge upon the under surface of said base member.

6. In a handle structure, a base member having a spindle attachingportion and provided at its marginal lower surface with a peripheralrecess, a backing plate having the surface and plan outline of thefinished handle, and engaged upon said base member, and an outer shellengaged over said backing plate in contact therewith, and bent over atits marginal edge into said peripheral recess of the base member.

7. In a handle structure, a base member having a spindle attachingportion, and provided adjacent one end with a hand grip attaching bossprojected upwardly, a backing plate having a projecting end portionengaged upon the upper surface of said boss, and engaged at itsperipheral edge upon the upper surface of said base member adjacent itsperipheral edge, an outer shell engaged over said backing plate incontact therewith, and bent over at its marginal edge upon the undersurface of said base member, and a hand grip element secured to saidboss of the-base member through said backing plate and shell.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fair-field, and State ofConnecticut, this 2nd day of February, 1926.

HARRY G. SPECHT.

